Box Set Britain:UK’s TV and online habits revealed

Ofcom (Office of Communications)

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/06/01/circulation-and-revenue-fall-for-newspaper-industry/

Box Set Britain:UK’s TV and online habits revealed

Ofcom (Office of Communications)

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/06/01/circulation-and-revenue-fall-for-newspaper-industry/

The UK has become a nation of binge viewers, Ofcom research reveals, with eight in ten adults now watching multiple episodes of their favourite shows in a single sitting.

Eight in ten adults in the UK (79%) - or 40 million people - use catch-up technology such as BBC iPlayer,or subscription services such as Netflix, to watch multiple episodes of a series in one sitting, wiping out the wait for next week’s instalment. One third (35%)do so every week, and more than half (55%) do it monthly.Most binge viewers (70%) find this type of viewing relaxing and enjoyable, and for others it’s an opportunity to discuss with friends (24%). But around a third (32%) of adults admit the temptation to watch another episode has cost them sleep and left them feeling tired.

Perhaps as a result, more than a third (35%) of binge viewers, and almost half (47%) of young adults aged 16-24 are trying to cut down their viewing in some way.This includes rationing their viewing (19%), finding an alternative hobby (10%), or even cancelling a TV subscription (4%).

Binge viewing has such a strong allure that many viewers say they don’t intend to do it, but the pull of the next episode keeps them tuned in. More than seven in ten (74%) say they sometimes watch more than they intend to, while 18% say this always happens.

And for some, the days of being tied to the TV schedule are fading, as UK viewers take advantage of being able to watch whenever, wherever they like.More than a third of people watch TV on the move- while on holiday (24%), while commuting (16%)or even in the pub (7%).

For many, watching TV is now a solo activity. Two in five adults say they watch TV alone every day,and almost nine in ten watch programmes alone at least once a week. One third of people say members of their household sit together, in the same room,watching different programmes on separate screens.Despite this, nine in ten people watch live TV every week, and family viewing is still an integral part of family life. Three in ten (30%) adults say their family still watches the same programmes or films together every day, while 70% do so at least once a week.Nearly seven in ten (68%) say watching TV can bring the whole family together for a shared viewing experience.

Lindsey Fussell, Consumer Group Director at Ofcom, said: “Technology has revolutionised the way we watch TV. The days of waiting a week for the next episode are largely gone, with people finding it hard to resist watching multiple episodes around the house or on the move.“But live television still has a special draw, and the power to bring the whole family together in a common experience.”